It’s something Weatherford senior defensive back Dalton Clubb has been dreaming of his whole life - playing college football.

As of National Signing Day, Feb. 5, that dream is now a reality.

With a jubilent mother and proud coaches by his side, Clubb signed his Letter of Intent to play for Tarleton State in Stephenville.

“I talked to Midwestern University and Drake in Iowa but Tarleton is the only school I actually visited that I just really loved,” Clubb said. “I’m really excited to go there.”

Clubb said he is planning to play safety at TSU and major in business. He has been on the varsity Weatherford squad since he was a sophomore and this year was named to the District 3-5A All-District team. Starting out with former head coach Reid Waller and ending his tenure with head coach Weldon Nelms, Clubb said his time in Weatherford has been “life-changing.”

“I wish I had more time with [Nelms],” he said. “He’s a great coach and has a lot going for Weatherford in the coming years. I wish our season had gone a little bit better but I feel like I’ve learned a lot of new things.

“My secondary coach [Kip Holt] has showed me a lot and he’s helped me off the field as much as on the field; I think he’s helped prepare me a lot.”

Clubb added that playing in a tough district also has helped him be ready for what competition TSU, who were Co-Lone Star Conference Champions last season, will face.

“A lot of those kids [in District 3-5A] are going D1 and I think playing against those guys prepared me a lot better than most,” he said.

Mom Lora Kubena said she gives not just Clubb but all three of her boys credit for who they are.

“They are who they are because they worked hard to be where they’re at,” she said, fighting back tears. “I’m very proud.”

Aledo

Six seniors from Aledo’s 2013 record-breaking football team signed their letters at an early morning school event.

“It’s incredible to see all my buddies signing and going to different places,” said running back Daythan Davis, who signed with Southern Mississippi. “They all deserved it and all earned it. We all worked hard to get where we are.”

The 16-0 Bearcats won the Class 4A Division II state title in December and set a national record for points in the process, finishing with 1,023.

“Anytime you have kids go on to compete in collegiate athletics it’s a feather in our cap for Aledo High School and these kids,” said coach Tim Buchanan, who expects two or three more players to sign with Division II schools in the coming weeks. “It makes us feel good about all the hard work that these kids have put it, and all the stuff that the coaches have done.”

High school football coaches can usually spot the kid with a college future long before they take a varsity snap. Then there’s Tristan Stary, who played on the JV as a junior.

“Tristan started to work hard in the weight room and became a really good football player,” said Aledo coach Tim Buchanan, who expects Stary to play defensive end or outside linebacker at the Colorado School of Mines. “He got bigger, stronger and faster. That one was probably the only one that would have surprised me when they went through middle school and sub-varsity sports.”

Aledo offensive lineman Ernie McQuade signed with Air Force and linebacker Jordan Mittie is headed to Navy.

Mittie said though he picked Navy over Air Force, he’s “still looking into being a pilot.”